Japan is grappling with the aftermath of a series of powerful earthquakes, including one registering 7.5 in magnitude, resulting in a toll of 62 fatalities, as per NHK World, with the worst-hit areas being Wajima and Suzu on the Noto Peninsula in the Ishikawa prefecture. Over 20 individuals are seriously injured, and fears persist about people trapped beneath collapsed buildings.
Rescue efforts are underway despite aftershocks and adverse weather conditions. The earthquakes struck the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa, causing building collapses and triggering tsunami warnings extending to eastern Russia. Japan’s meteorological office reported a total of 155 earthquakes on that day.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has issued warnings of heavy rainfall in Noto, emphasizing the risk of landslides. Unfortunately, the relief mission faced a tragic setback when an aircraft carrying emergency supplies caught fire after a runway collision at Haneda airport, resulting in the death of five coastguard crew members.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stressed the urgency of the situation, acknowledging the race against time to rescue individuals trapped in collapsed structures. The government has called for an emergency task force meeting to strategize relief and rescue operations.
Mayor Masuhiro Izumiya of Suzu reported severe devastation, with nearly 90% of houses in the coastal city either completely or almost entirely destroyed. Japan, accustomed to frequent earthquakes, experiences hundreds annually, with most causing no harm. The country still bears the traumatic memory of the massive 9.0 magnitude quake in 2011, triggering a deadly tsunami that claimed around 18,500 lives.
